DUP councillor Brian Kingston to be Belfast lord mayor

The current group leader of the DUP on the council, Mr Kingston was selected as the party candidate for the post.

This will go forward to the council AGM on June 1.

The 50-year-old has told of his pride at being selected for the role.

“It is a great honour for me to be selected for the position of lord mayor of my home city,” he said.

“I am very proud to come from Belfast and, as a councillor, I have taken huge pleasure in seeing the great strides forward that our city is making year on year.”

He added: “I will do my utmost during my term of office to promote the inclusive growth of our capital city’s economy, to advance our international connections, attract international events and to support all those who make Belfast a compassionate and caring city.

“I will dedicate myself to the role of representing all the people of our city in an important year which includes the solemn occasion of the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

“Both I and my wife Eileen, in her role as lady mayoress, look forward immensely to the opportunities that this year will present.”

The position of lord mayor for the forthcoming year was selected by the DUP during the running of d’Hondt for the selection of positions of special responsibility between the various party groups at the start of this council term.

Mr Kingston, a father-of-three, lives in Ballysillan in north Belfast and has been a DUP councillor for Court Electoral Area since May 2010.

Prior to becoming a councillor he worked in community development work in north and west Belfast for over 20 years.